By Kayode Adeoti
How time flies. Muhammed Idowu Akande has spent 100 days in office as the chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ilorin branch, Kwara State. He was sworn in by an High Court Judge, Justice Sikiru Oyinloye on July 29th, 2018. On 6th November, Akande, with his executives have been in office for 100 days. In the history of NBA, Ilorin branch, Akande is the first chairman Ministry of Justice will produce. He defeated his Professor of Law and former Dean, Faculty Of Law, University of Ilorin, Ibrahim Abikan to secure the seat. In his manisfestoes before the election that was conducted through e-voting, Akande, who is popular among his colleagues as ‘MAI’ made beautiful promises towards improving welfare of his colleagues among others. Today, 100 days have gone by, and the question of if the chairman is actually living up to his campaign promises is fast becoming a hard born that can only be cracked by his colleagues. On this note, PILOT LAW went round to sample lawyers’ opinions over his 100 days performance in office and that of his executives. Excerpts:
Ahmed Taiwo Azeez: His tenure recorded no tangible thing
I rejoiced with him when he emerged as the chairman, we were happy for him because we wanted youths to manage the affairs of the Bar, we believed in his strength, innovative ideas and that he will be able to take the Bar from where it was to the next, better level. His tenure is too young to judge but as it is now, we’ve not recorded any tangible thing. We’re expecting much from him being one of the youngest President Ilorin Bar will produce. Some weeks ago, a member of the young lawyers was beaten by police, many of us were not satisfied with the way he’s handling the matter. We believe he ought to have done more and many of us have been liaising with him on this. We pray God will help him through so that he can take us to where we expect.
Anthonia Oshiniwe, CEO of Theios caregiver: Those complaining should dare the seat
Yes, people are complaining that he has not done well, but personally, I don’t see it so, all those people complainin, let them come and do it. To me, he has been trying, he has set up some committee and they’re working. If in 100 days he has been able to achieve this little, I believe he will do much more with the time he has ahead.
Balqis Arinola Ahmed: I think he’s trying
MAI 100 days in office, to me, it has been cool. He took us to conference, he is doing well, I’m not aware of any crisis in the Bar.
Ahmed Abaya: ‘…when you’ve god-fathers, you can’t perform’
He has a personality that can make one to say, he is our chairman but the problem is that, when you have some god fathers, you may not be able to do the right things. The way I’m seeing things, he’s having some directors. He cannot even decide issues on his own. For his 100 days in office, I’ve not seen any tangible project of this administration.
Kabiru Adebayo: We’re disappointed…
I want to believe 100 days might be too short to judge an administration, however, a day out of 10 years means by if misused. So far, I will score the administration 40,below pass mark. One of the tests within the first 100 days of Akande’s tenure has to be with the case of Police beating a lawyer. Going by the opinion of the majority of the association, we’re somehow disappointed. When the incident happened, people wanted a pragmatic approach, committees were set up but there are some things that some of us felt should have been done otherwise. The issue of protest within the High Court premises, when it was proposed, I knew it was dead on arrival because it is never done anywhere. Police headquarters is just a stone throw away, what stops us from making a peaceful protest to the area. On the positive side, I think the idea of giving N50,000 loan to member that is interested is also a good one, it is within his 100 days in office and it is a plus, though we’ve not heard of anyone been given. On the Issue of quacks, especially within the High Court environment, the Chairman in his manifesto promised to curb quackery but I stand to be corrected, I’m yet to see anyone been arrested or prosecuted for this offence.
Aishat Temim: He’ll soon unveil agenda
100 days is just three months and some days, it is not easy, he needs more time to make things work. It is not easy for someone to just come up and start making name, he will have to set his agendas right first, soonest, he will get to unveil what he has in stock for us because I know he has many good plans for the association.
Prof Oba Yusuf: He’s performing
To me, he has done so well in office. He is somebody who is loaded with ideas and be is prepared for the job. He has performed so well in his 100 days in office. He has set up committee for this year’s dinner early enough and it is made up of eminent members of the Bar.
Akin Akintoye II: He unifies the Bar. He has been able to put the bar together; he has consolidated on what the previous chairman has done. Some of the promises he made during the election have been coming into reality, there is regular update of the Bar activities on social media or email. That is much I can say he has done.
